HarbinSTRONG

Most guys can recall Babe Ruth’s record SLG.

It was in 1932 that the Great Bambino launched the ball into the outfield like a bullet, his final stride across home plate marking his legendary slugging percentage of .690.

If you ask any man about his own stats, perhaps his old college or high school sports glory days may pop into mind. But if you ask about his health stats, chances are he’ll strike out.

June is Men’s Health Month, and Harbin Clinic encourages all men to Man Up and Know their Stats.

What About The Stats You Should Know?

Men are 50 percent less likely than women to go to the doctor and get regular wellness checks, and most men avoid their primary care physicians unless they suspect a serious health condition.

“I am challenging men everywhere to put their health first and to learn the stats that can save their lives,” says Dr. Shalini Reddy of Harbin Clinic Family Medicine Rome. “By taking responsibility for their wellness, I think many men will find themselves living happier and healthier lives.”

Men have been told their whole lives to ‘shake it off,’ but getting annual health screenings can make prevention and detection of serious health issues possible, keeping men off the benches and swinging for the fences.

“It’s like a tune-up they get on their cars so they continue to run well,” says Dr. Reddy. “Wellness checks do the same for their bodies.”

Health screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels, body mass and prostate health will help your physician (aka your health coach) keep you in the game for much longer.

Consider this your playbook that will make you more familiar with how to Man Up & Know Your Stats:

Cholesterol

This measures the total amount of HDL, LDL and triglycerides in the blood. Having a total number of 199 or below is considered normal.

LDL

This stands for low-density lipoprotein, commonly known as bad cholesterol, and is made up of fat and protein and carries cholesterol and fats in the blood. Having a reading of less than 100 mg/dL is optimal although less than 130 is considered in the healthy range.

HDL

This stands for high-density lipoprotein, commonly known as good cholesterol, and having high levels of this can reduce the risk for heart attacks and strokes. Having a reading of 40 mg/dL or above is considered good.

PSA

This number measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood and is primarily used to screen for prostate cancer in men over the age of 40 or who have a family history of prostate cancer. A level of 4.0 ng/ml or below is considered normal.

DIABETES

This is a disease where blood glucose levels are above normal. A blood test lets your doctors check your numbers. A fasting blood sugar level below 100 mg/dL is considered normal.

BMI

The body mass index is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. It can help doctors determine a healthy weight range for individuals.

BLOOD PRESSURE

The combination of systolic and diastolic numbers represent your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to several health complications.

SYSTOLIC

This indicates how much pressure blood is exerting against artery walls when the heart beats. A reading of less than 120 is considered normal.

DIASTOLIC

This indicates how much pressure blood is exerting against artery walls when the heart is resting between beats. A reading of less than 80 is considered healthy.